Books English

Quotes from the first chapter of this book:

Rooted in one ultimate reality, the universe and all within it proceed by a process of emanation into being. When we say "one ultimate reality" we should not really say "One," because One implies two. So, rooted in a non-dual ultimate reality, the process was radiation through which emanation occurred and within that inherent lawfulness of the system gave rise to an evolutionary cycle of becoming, which in the human stage is self-directed and self-consciously chosen. The pivotal doctrine of the esoteric philosophy is that there are no special gifts in man, save those won by his own Ego [reincarnating self] throughout a long series of reincarnation and metempsychosis. This is important because it is not simply by living a certain number of lives, reïncarnation, that we come to transformation.

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Consciousness is primary.

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Only in the human stage does consciousness become reflective upon itself and therefore self-conscious decision and effort become not only possible but constitute the priveleged choice and the responsible act of every human being. We must choose: responsibility is there.

Joy Mills has been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1940 and has served as General Secretary of the American Section and the Australian Section, and she was International Vice-President of the T.S.. She was director of the Krotona Institute School of Theosophy in Ojai, California. Her lecture tours have taken her to more than 50 countries.

From the book:

Without watching oneself and learning to live a truly religious and ethical life, it is impossible to reach the deeper spiritual nature. If we believe meditation to be apart from daily living, failure can be predicted right from the beginning. That is what many do. They give a little time to 'meditation', repeat formulas to quieten the mind for a while, and then that activity ends, and the daily life goes on a course that is quite different. But meditation is the touching of that deeper source of energy which belongs to the spiritual nature.
(page. 48)

The book includes question and answer sessions and chapters on the following subjects: 'T.S. Work and the Fundamental Change in Man and Society', 'The Nature of the Change', 'Regeneration and the Objects of the T.S.', 'Our Approach to Theosophy', 'Individual and Group work for Regeneration' and 'The Source of Spiritual Energy'.

In the lectures, Joy Mills places a special emphasis on the ethical conclusions to be drawn from study of this book. She elaborates on the mythological nature of the content of The Secret Doctrine, particularly where it refers to the origins and development of man. In contemporary language, and with frequent references to the latest developments in physics and biology, the essence of The Secret Doctrine is made more accessible to the modern reader.

Joy Mills has been a member of the Theosophical Society since 1940 and has served as General Secretary of the American Section and the Australian Section, and she was International Vice-President of the T.S.. She was director of the Krotona Institute School of Theosophy in Ojai, California. Her lecture tours have taken her to more than 50 countries.

In 1875 Madame Blavatsky founded the Theosophical Society at the request of her occult teachers, whom she endearingly referred to as the "Mahatmas", an ancient Sanskrit term meaning "Great Souls". Blavatsky was clear to point out that the Mahatmas, also referred to as Masters and Adepts, were fully mortal men who through painstaking training and service, had evolved their highest psychic faculties. These teachers, whom Blavatsky claimed were among the Universal Brotherhood devoted to the spiritual evolution of humanity, were also the source of her remarkable and vastly extensive occult education. Blavatsky’s own psychic and paranormal feats astonished onlookers of her day, but it was the tremendous wisdom, compassion, and blunt honesty of her Mahatmas that invoked such ardent curiosity in Mr. Sinnett. The words of these mysterious Mahatmas continue to draw and inspire seekers on the quest for spiritual truth into this present day.

Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom comes to us from one of Theosophy’s most respected and beloved veterans, Joy Mills! Joy brilliantly sheds new and profound insight into these 140 plus letters that first astounded Western society over a century ago. Her beautiful, intricate volume of heartfelt observations sequentially covers each of the Mahatma letters, highlighting messages most relevant for today. As Ed Abdill remarks, "In the spirit of a true Theosophist, Joy does not attempt to give us final answers. She asks questions of herself and suggests that we might ask ourselves the same questions." Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom is an invaluable addition to any esoteric researcher’s library; a remarkable gift of inspiration for Theosophists, philosophical seekers, and researchers far and wide.

Read Samples
Table of Contents| Foreword

Endorsements

Joy Mills has made the Letters more accessible to me than at any time since I discovered them at age nineteen. Not only does she give the Letters a place in history and in the spiritual history of each of us who providentially stumbles upon them, Mills does a remarkable job of letting us in on the personalities of both the Adepts and their endearingly mortal correspondents. Yes, this is a serious tome dealing with nothing less than the meaning of life, and yet, for those of us for whom the meaning of life is endlessly fascinating, it reads like a novel.
—Victoria Moran, author of Creating a Charmed Life, Lit from Within and Shelter for the Spirit

The Mahatma Letters to A. P. Sinnett is "an essential part of the foundational literature" of modern Theosophy and a source of surprising insights into the realities of life. Joy Mills, a life-long student of the subject, is the most qualified living person to comment on these letters, which call us "to undertake the journey" to "timeless truths."
—John Algeo

A new book by Joy Mills is always an occasion for celebration among serious students of Theosophy. Reflections on an Ageless Wisdom, the fruit of many years of studying and teaching The Mahatma Letters, can be expected to remain a definitive work on this basic theosophical text for many years to come. Both those coming to the Letters for the first time, and advanced students who enjoy a long familiarity with them, will find much here to stimulate thought and deeper insight.
—Robert Ellwood, Ph.D., author of Frodo’s Quest and The Cross and the Grail

Joy Mills' commentary, Reflections on an Ancient Wisdom, brings invaluable insight and clarity to the mysterious letters of the Himalayan adepts who helped found the worldwide Theosophical Society. While shedding new light on the Perennial Philosophy, Mills shows how the letters illumine the sometimes strange, demanding world of Occultism, where unconditional love, compassion, and an uncompromising search for Truth reign supreme.
—Maria Parisen, director, Krotona School of Theosophy

Joy Mills has been a member of The Theosophical Society since 1940. She has served as President of the Theosophical Society in America, General Secretary of the Australian Section, and International Vice-President. She has lectured in more than 50 countries, and worked as Director of the Krotona Institute of Theosophy, in Ojai, California.

To me, the true value of any book lies only in the questions that it raises, not in the answers that it offers. If the reader finds in this book even  few questions he wishes to dwell on, I shall feel amply rewarded. That is the only purpose of this book.

(from the foreword)

A quote from the book:

If you ask me to list the major problems that modern society, or mankind, in its present state is facing, I would say that the tendency in human beings to form groups - either national groups or religious groups or caste groups or racial groups - and create division of mankind, then feel not for the whole of mankind but only for the particular group to which one belongs, is by far the greatest problem facing us, because it does give us some sort of a feeling of security to belong to a group. We must examine whether it is real security to belong to a group. We must examine whether it is real security or some kind of illusory feeling of security which comes because we are not farsighted enough, we are not looking deeply enough. I would say this division in mankind is perhaps the most major problem and the greatest cause of violence and torture in modern society.

P. Krishna is a former professor of physics at the Banaras Hindu University, and a former rector of the Rajghat Education Centre of the Krishnamurti Foundation India at Varanasi, India. He is currently in charge of the Krishnamurti study centre there.

Internationally acclaimed for her groundbreaking United Nations and UNICEF leadership training, and for her founding role in the Human Potentials Movement, bestselling author Dr. Jean Houston has guided thousands of people from across the globe on a transformative journey in search of their ‘essential selves’. Now, in her latest release, The Hero and the Goddess, Houston invites you to embark with her on her most important journey yet, a provocative exploration of antiquity’s greatest epic, Homer’s The Odyssey.

The Hero and the Goddess reveals the timeless power of myth to liberate the psyche. In this engaging journey with the Odyssey’s immortal archetypes the reader truly becomes the hero of old and the goddess divine. With provocative exercises accompanying each chapter, Houston brings Odysseus’s mythic quest to life. Tailored for the individual as well as for group study, The Hero and the Goddess connects the seeker to the ageless wisdom embodied in archetypal figures, those venerable beings dwelling in us all.

By becoming the cunning warrior, the goddess protector, a faithful mother, and endearing son, we meet with the honest reflections of our deepest yearnings and betrayals, our subconscious feelings of loss and grief. Awaiting the champion who stays true is that of the newly ‘awakened self’. And although the mythic journey begins in you, these great archetypes most reveal the transcendent revelation of ‘oneness’, the impetus for a higher global consciousness. This transformative journey brings resurrection and healing to those who dare to embark on the path of The Hero and the Goddess. Set sail and be discovered as the Athena and Odysseus within, welcomed home to join again the “Divine Beloved of the Soul”.

The well known theosophical historian and researcher Michael Gomes has conscientiously transcribed and annotated the hand- written transcription of this text, which had been forgotten for many years. Only an abridged version of the initial meetings had been published. Here for the first time is Blavatsky’s direct teaching on The Secret Doctrine with her students, imbued with her humor, insight, and wisdom.

The hitherto unpublished instructions in this book hold invaluable insight into Blavatsky’s method and wisdom and carries us to deeper discoveries within of the mystery of her Secret Doctrine.

Amongst Michael Gomes’ publications are numerous books, articles and papers on the history of the Theosophical Movement, and two abridgements of Blavatsky’s Isis Unveiled and The Secret Doctrine. He is also the author of Theosophy in the Nineteenth Century: An Annotated Bibliography, The Dawning of the Theosophical Movement and HPB Teaches, a one volume anthology of her articles published for her death centenary in 1991.

Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831-1891) in the latter part of the 19th century brought to the world a renewal of the Ancient Wisdom presented through a “synthesis of philosophy, religion and science.” In 1888 her masterpiece, The Secret Doctrine, was published where she outlines with clarity and insight – guided by its source, the ancient Stanzas of Dzyan – the origin and development of the universe and humanity.

With a lucid translation, a luminous commentary and helpful practical suggestions, Ravindra invites the readers to engage with the questions which arise from the text as an aid to self-study and to relate the teaching to their daily lives.

"Ravi Ravindra writes with the authority and clarity of a spiritual master. Whether writing about Christianity, Buddhism or the teaching of Krishnamurti, he brings deep insight. Now he has clearly and admirably presented the Yoga Sutras. It will raise many questions for thoughtful readers. Highly recommended."
--Sri TKV Desikachar, author of The Heart of Yoga